La Bresse awaits

The French riverside town of La Bresse awaits this morning for the start of the 2012 FIM Trial World Championship. Sat in the east of the country, close to the German and Swiss border this alpine dwelling is more used to winter sports and mountain biking, however today will have the honour of opening the 2012 Trial campaign. The sixty-four riders will soon leave the paddock that lines the main street and head up the hill behind the town to the purpose developed Trial Park where fourteen out of the fifteen testing hazards lay in wait.

The scenery from the compact venue at the top of the hill offers stunning views over La Bresse where the final section is situated in the town square. The majority of the hazards feature rocky outcrops on relatively steep bankings that will become increasingly difficult in the case of rain. This facility last hosted a Trial GP back in 1997 and was the home of the FIM Trial des Nations in 2001. Much may have changed in the last decade or so, but everything looks set for La Bresse to deliver yet another World class event, which this time will kick off the 2012 season.